Mechanism for assembling slices



April 29, 1930.

J. FOLK MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING SLICES Original Filed Aug. 16. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1930. J K I 1,756,544

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING SLICES Original Filed Aug. 16. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 April 29, 1930. J, FOLK MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING SLICES 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 16 1926 Patented Apr. 29, 1930 uurrsosrarss ear'snr crease JOSEPH FO LK, OF LA FORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNQR TO U.S. SLICING MACHINECOM- PANY, OF LA FORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OFINDIANA MEGHANISlVI FOR ASSEMBLING SLIGES Application filed August 16,1926, Serial No. 129,327. Renewed September 19, 1929.

This invention relates to mechanism for use in connection with slicingmachines for receiving slices as they are formed and arranging orassembling the slices in a suitable stack for wrapping. 1

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a slice assemblingdevice which will receive the slices as they are formed upon an easilyaccessible platform which may be covered with wrapping paper so that theslices after being deposited may be picked up in the paper without thenecessity of touching the slices with the hands.

A further object is to provide a slice receiver which shall be simpleand inexpensive to manufacture, ellicient in operation and which shallnot unduly add to the necessary power for operating slicing machines.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings and described in the followingspecification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a slicing machineshowing one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto;

Fig- 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with partsin section; and

Fig. is an elevation looking from the left in Fig. 1 with parts insection.

The numeral 10 designates the base or frame of a slicing machine havinga rotary slicing knife 11 and a reciprocating table 12 for moving thematerial to be sliced past the knife. A bracket 13 projects'forwardlyfrom the base 10 and is provided with a bearing sleeve 14 at its forwardend in which a pin 15 is journaled. A spider 16 is. secured to theupwardly projecting end of the pin 15 and rests upon the sleeve 14: inposition to rotate about the axis of the sleeve. The spider 16 extendsrearwardly from the pin 15 towards the reciprocating table 12 and therear edge of the spider-is curved and projects. beneath the front edgeof the reciprocating table 12 sothat the reciprocating table overlapsthe 21 to the bracket 19. The opposite end of the 1 connecting rod ispivotally connected at 22 to the spider 16. When the table 12reciprocates the connecting rod willsimultaneously oscillate the spider16. The radial distance from the pivot pin 15 to the outer edge of theplate 17 just permits the plate 17 toclear the cutting edge of the knife11. Since the axis 15 is displaced along the frontedge of the table 12relative to the cuttingedge oftheknife it is apparent that this willcause the plate 17 to swing beneath the edge of the reoiprocating, table12. At one cornerof the spider 16 there is provided a sleeve 23 in whicha spindle 24 is journaled. A sleeve 25 is slidably mounted on the upperend of the spindle 241 and carries a bracket 26 on which a slicereceiving plate 27 is supported- The plate 27 extends abovethe spider 16and is shaped to fit within the contour of the upright walls 17 and 18so that the plate 27 oscillates with the spider 16 and the abutmentwalls 17 and 18. A hand lever 28 is pivoted at 29 on the handle on thesleeve 25 and is provided with a toothed block or segmental nut 30'which meshes with threads 31 on'the spindle 2 1, thus supporting thesleeve 25 in adjusted positions longitudinally of the spindle. Theupward movement of the sleeve 25 is limitedby a removable cap 32 securedto the upper end of the spindle 2 1. The threads 31 are discontinued toprovide a gap 33 just above the spider 16 so that when the sleeve,

25 reaches its lowermost position with the plate 27 near the spider 16,rotation of the spindle 24 will not affect the toothed block 30. Securedto the spindle 24 below the lower end of the sleeve 23 is a disc 3 1 andjournale'd on the spindle 2% below the disc 34 is a sleeve 35 whichcarries an arm 36 projecting horizontally therefrom. The projecting-endof a. pin 37 with. a link 38, the other end of the link 38 being pivotedat 39 to an arm 40' rigidly mounted on the bracket 13. A cam dog 41 isjournaled on the upper end of the pin 37.'and is provided with a 'camface 42 which bears against the periphery of the disc 34. The point ofcontact between the faces of the dog .41 and the disc 34 is at one sideof the center line of the cam and disc and the cam is held in contactwith the disc by a spring 43 which extends into an opening in one edgeof the cam and which bears against a stop lug 44 projecting upwardlyfrom the arm 36. As the spider 16 is moved in a counter-clockwisedirection by the connecting rod 20, as viewed in Fig; 2, the distancebetween the spindle 24 and the pivot point 39 will be increased whichwill tend to straighten the toggle formed by the link 38 and arm 36.This will swing the arm 36 about the axis of the spindle 24 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and since the bearingbetween the-cam dog 41 andth-e'link 38 is at the left off the centerline in this figure the rotation of the disc 34 will cause the dog 41 tobear more tightly against the periphery of the disc 34 and rotate thedisc 34 in unison with the arm 36. Since the disc 34 is secured to thespindle'24 the rotation of the disc will be imparted to the threads 31and the movement of the threads in the toothed block30 will lower thesleeve 25 and plate 27 a slight amount. On the re-' turn movement ofthe, spider the cam dog 41 will slide idly over the disc 34 so that thespindle 24 will remain in its adjusted position of rotation. In this waythe plate 27 is grade ua-lly fed downwardly as the spider isoscillatedby reciprocation of the table 12. At each reciprocation of thetable a slice is severed from the material carried by the table anddirected away from the knife 11 onto the receiving plate 27 by a slicedeflector 45.

This slice deflector is adjustably mounted on a post 46 carried by abracket 47 secured to the chain box 48 of the slicing machine. Thedeflector is provided with a curved slice engaging face having ribsthereon for restricting the. contact between the slice and deflector asmore fully described and claimed in my co-pending application, SerialNo. 123,044, filed July 17, 1926. Since the receiving plate 27 occupiesthe same relation to the reciproeating table 12 at each slicingoperation the slices formed by the knife 11 will be deposited broad sidedown on top of one another in an orderly stack on the plate 27; Theplate 27 is gradually moved downwardlyby the mechanism describedproviding room forthe succeSsive slices as they are formed. The slicesare held against centrifugal displacement by the abutment wall 17 andare held from sliding when the direction of oscillation is reversedbythe end'walls 18. It will be appar ent that the spindle 24 for feedingthe plate 27 downwardly is arranged at one corner of the plate 27to'leave the upper surface of the plate free from obstruction so thatthe stack of slices is easily accessible and so that a piece of wrappingpaper may be spread on the up-' per surface of the plate 27 to permitthe stack;

. the hands. "V hen the plate reaches its lgwermost position the block30 will register with.

the gap 33 in the threads 31 so that further rotation will not jam thethreads. After the stack of slices has been removed, or at any othertime desired, the plate 27 mayagain v be raised to its uppermostposition by grasping the sleeve 25 and handle 28, thus releasing thetoothed block 30. It is then only necessary to raise the sleeve alongthe spindle 24 to return the plate27 to its uppermost position. Byreleasing the lever 28 the segmental. nut 30 will again engage thethreads 31 andhold the plate 27 in its raised ready for furtheroperation.

position As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,'the slicereceiving late 27 projectsbeneath the front edge ofthe reciprocating table. Due to the location ofthe receiver beneath the reciprocating table, the slices, when out, fallfree of any relatively moving parts and the stack of slices is notsoliable to be disarranged upon the return movement of the receiver. The.overlapping relationship of the receiver and table makes it certain thatnone of the slices will fall outside of the receiving plate 27. It isalso desirable that the plate 27 project under the reciprocating tablebecause the oiiset position of the pivot or fulcrum with respect to theknife would not otherwise permit the rim 17 of the receiver to go closeto the knife. The overlap of the table with respect to the plate alsopermits the crumbs falling over the edge of the table to collect in therecess between the stack and the rim 17. i

It is to be noted, however, that it is not necessary that the entiresurface of the receiver be positioned below the top surface of the meattable as it is only necessary that the portion of the surface of theslice receiver ad acent the table upon which the slices are cleplositeclshould be positioned below the meat ta e.

' As shown in the drawings, the abutment plate'does not extend entirelyaround the receiver 27, the side toward the operator 1 beingunobstructed so that the slices may be easily removed and the receivercleaned.

Iclaim:- V I V r j 1. The combination with a slicing machine, of areceiver for slices formed by said machine, means for directingsaidslicesonto said receiver as they are formed, means. for rotatingsaid receiver about an upright axis,

an adjusting means removed from the. axis of rotation of said receiver,mechanism con? nected to said adjusting means and operable throughrotation of said receiver to actuate said adjusting means.

2. The combination with a slicing machine, of a receiverfor slicesformed by said machine, said receiver comprising an abutment plateshaped to partially enclose a slice re-. ceiving space but leaving saidspace open at one side, a receiving plate movable vertically within saidslice receiving space, and means spaced away from the central portion ofsaid open side for vertically adjusting said plate.

3. 'The combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receivercomprising an abutment plate shaped to partially enclose a slicereceiving space, a receiving plate mounted for vertical adjustment insaid slice receiving space, means for rotating said receiver about anupright axis centrally disposed relative to the open side of said slicereceiv ing space, and means offset relative to the axis of rotation ofsaid receiver for adjusting said receiving plate vertically.

4. The combination with a slicing machine, of a receiver for slicesformed by said machine, means for rotating said receiver about anupright axis, means spaced from said upright axis for adjusting saidreceiver vertically, and means operated by the rotation of said receiverfor actuating said adjusting means. 7

5. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and areciprocating table, of a slice receiver, means connected with saidreciprocating table for oscillating said slice receiver past the cuttingedge of said slicing knife, a threaded member djisplaced f'rom the axisof rotation of said receiver for adjusting said receiver, and meansoperated by the rotation of said receiver for rotating said threadedmember.

6. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and areciprocating table, of a slice receiver mounted to oscillate about anupright axis, means for oscillating said receiver simultaneously withthe operation of said reciprocating table, said receiver comprising anupright abutment plate partially enclosing a slice receiving space butleaving one side of said space open, a receiving plate verticallyadjustable in said slice receiving space, and a threaded memberconnected with said receiver but spaced from the axis of rotationthereof for adjusting said plate.

7. The combination with a slicing machine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, of a spider mounted to oscillate about an uprightaxis, spaced from said table, an upright abutment plate surrounding aportion of the periphery of Said; spider but leaving one side thereofopen, a vertically movable p ate disposed in the space surrounded bysaid abutment plate, and a threaded meme ber positioned at one nd ofsaid open side spaced from said cutting plane and ofisetin the directionof said plane relative to the cut.- ting edge of said knife, the edge ofsaid slice receiver being arranged to extend beneath the edge of saidtable.

9. The combination with a slicing machine comprising a reciprocatingtable and a slice ing knife, of a slice receiver projecting beneath theedge of said reciprocating table, and means for moving said slicereceiver simultaneously with said reciprocating table past the cuttingedge of said knife. 10. The combination with a slicing ma chine having areciprocatingt-able and a slic Eng knife, of a slice receiver having a.curved edge thereof extending beneath the edge of said reciprocatingtable, and means for roe tating said slice receiver about the axis ofthe curvature of said receiver.'

11. The combination with a slicing ma chine having a reciprocating tableand .a slicing knife, of a slice receiver having an arcuate edge, anupright abutment plat-e extend ng about said edge and having its up.-per edge extending beneath the edge of said reciprocating table, andmeans for rotating said slice receiver about an upright. axis spacedfrom the edge of: said reciprocating tableand offset in the direction ofsaid edge of said reciprocating table relative to the cut? ting edge ofsaid knife.

12. The'combination with a slicing machine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, .of a slice receiver having an arcuate peripheralportion extending beneath the edge of said reciprocating table, an up:right abutment plate extending about said peripheral portion and havingits upper edge projecting beneath the edge of said reciproe eatingtable, slice receiving plate disposed Within the space included by saidabutment plate, means for rotating said slice receiver about an uprightaxis spaced from the edge of said reciprocatingtable and offset in thedirection of the cutting plane of said knife relative to the edge ofsaid knife, and means for rotating said slice receiver past. the cuttingedge of said knife simultaneously with said reciprocating table,

13. The combination with a slicing chine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, of a support spaced frona the-edge of saidreciprocating table, slice receiver i na ate a out anuprigh a upport, aupr ght a h ist-meat mounted on said receiver and spaced said uprightaxis, means for intermittently operating said adjustment screw, and anarm -projecting from said support and connected V justment screw carriedby said slice receiver and spacedfrom said axis of rotation, an armpivoted to oscillate about the axis of said adjustment screw, a one-waydrive connected with said arm for rotating said adjustment screw, and alink having one end pivoted to said arm and having its other end pivotedatv a fixed point spaced from the axis of rota- 131011 of said slicereceiver.

15, The combination with a slicing ma chine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, 'ofa bracket'projecting from'said slicing machine,a-slice receiver ournaled to rotate about an upright axis on saidbracket,

means connecting said slice receiver with said reciprocating table tooscillate said slice receiver simultaneously With the reciprocation ofsaid table, an abutment plate extend ing about a portion of said slicereceiver, a

vertically adjustable slice support disposed within the space includedby said abutment plate, a threaded spindle journaled in said slicereceiver and spaced from the axis of oscillation thereof, an armjournaled to rotate about the axis of said threaded spindle,

a one-Way cam drive carried by said arm for rotating said spindle, alink connecting said arm with a point spaced from the axis ofoscillation of said; slice support, and a toothed member connected withsaid slice support for engaging the threads on said threaded spindle; Y

16. The combination with a slicing machine having a reciprocating tableand a slicing knife, of a slice receiver mounted to oscillate about anupright axis, a slice support vertically adjustable on said slicereceiver, a threaded spindlefor adjusting said slice support, and areleasable nut connecting saidspindle with said slice support.

17. The combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receiver forreceiving slices formed by said machine, means for rotating saidreceiver about an upright axis, a threaded spindle ournaled in saidslice receiver and spaced from said axis of rotation, a slice sup- Iport, a sleeve connected with said slice support andmovablelongitudinally of said spindle, a toothed member mounted on saidsleeve for engaging the threads on said spindle, means for releasingsaid toothed member to permit movement of said support relative to saidspindle, and means actuated by the movement of said slice receiverfor'periodically rotating said spindle.

a threaded spindle connected with said slice supporting plate foradjusting the same vertically, said spindle being offset relative to thecenter of said open side of said receiver and longitudinally thereof topermit unobstructed access to said support through said open side, andmeans operated by the movement of said support for rotating saidspindle.

19. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and areciprocating table, of a slice receiver having an arcuate peripheralportion and straight side portions, an abutment plate extending aboutsaid arcuate peripheral portion and straight side portions butleavingthe side of said receiver opposite said arcuate portion open,means for rotating said receiver about-an axis substantially midway ofthe open side of said receiver, a vertically adjustable slice supportdisposed within the space included by said abutment plate, an adjustmentscrew .dis-

posed near one end of the'open side of said slice receiver, means forconnecting said slice support with said adjustment screw, and meansoperated by the oscillation of said slice support for rotating saidadjustment screw to move said slice support downwardly.

20. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, ofatablefor moving thesubstance to be sliced past said slicing knife so thatslices may be cut therefrom by said knife, a member pivoted to arelatively fixed support, a feed screw extending upwardly from saidmember and rotatably mounted therein, means for preventing longitudinalmovement of said feed screw in said member, a slice receiver rotatablymounted on said feed screw, a feed nut on said slice receiver adapted toenga e said feed screw, means for rotating said feed screw relatively tosaid member as said mem ber moves about its pivot, and means for movingsaid member and slice receiverin timed relation to the movements of thesupporting table.

21. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of atablefor moving the substance to be sliced past said slicing knife sothat slices may be cut therefrom by said knife, a member pivoted to arelatively fixed support, a feed screw extending 'upwardly from saidmember and rotatably mounted therein, means for preventing longitudinalmovement of said feed screw in said member, a slice receiver rotatablymounted on said feed screw, a feed nut on said slice receiver adapted toengage said feed screw, means for rotating said feed screw relatively tosaid member as said member moves about its pivot, and means for movingsaid member and slice receiver in timed relation to the movements of thesupportin table, said feed nut being pivoted to sai slice receiver andyieldingly urged into engagement with said feed screw.

22. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of atable for moving the substance to be sliced past said knife, a slicereceiver for receiving the slices as they are cut from the substance bysaid slicing knife, a feed screw journaled in an oscillating member andadapted to support said slice receiver, a feed nut on said slicereceiver adapted to engage said feed screw and be fed downwardly if andwhen said feed screw is rotated, said feed screw being locatedeccentrically to the pivot of said oscillating member so that as saidmember oscillates said feed screw will move about said pivot, and a linkconnected to a relatively fixed support and having operative connectionswith said feed screw so that as said feed screw is moved about the pivotfor said oscillating member said operative connections will cause saidfeed screw to rotate about its own axis to impart a feeding movement tosaid slice receiver.

23. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance support, aslice receiver movable in timed relation with the movement of saidsubstance support and adapted to receive slices as they are cut from thesubstance on said support, said slice receiver being supported by meansof a feed screw co-operating With a feed nut on said slice receiver, andmeans for feeding the slice receiver downwardly after each movement ofthe substance to be sliced past a predetermined position comprising alink pivoted to an arm concentric with the axis of said screw andadapted to actuate said arm, a member having a cam face pivoted to saidarm, a substantially circular disc rigidly connected to said feed screwand adapted to have the peripheral surface thereof engage said cam face,and means for yieldingly urging said member having said cam face intoengagement with the peripheral surface of said circular disc, saidmember having said cam face being adapted to rotate said feed screwabout its axis by frictional engagement between said cam face and saidperipheral surface on said circular disc as said arm moves about itspivot in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this7th day of August, A. D. 1926.

JOSEPH FOLK.

